Early Life
You probably know him as Ray J, but his real name is William Ray Norwood Jr. He was born on January 17, 1981, in McComb, Mississippi. His father was the director of the church choir while his sister is a famous singer with several platinum records behind her. When Ray J was just a toddler, his family relocated to Los Angeles.
He started learning to sing from a young age, thanks to his father. He became interested in singing by listening to his older sister, Brandy Norwood, and father sing. His first performances were in the local church, where he led several services.
Career
Ray J’s career started in 1993 when he was cast to play the foster son in The Sinbad Show. From there on, he got cast in movie projects for the next couple of years. After The Sinbad Show, Ray J was in the fiction film Mars Attacks, and another film, Steel, where he played alongside his old friend Shaquille O’Neal.
His regular TV appearances started with Moesha, his sister’s show where he played Dorian Long, a character that the audience fell in love with.
In 1995, Ray J decided to take his chances in the music industry. He signed a contract with the Elektra Records and released his debut album Everything You Want in 1995. The records This Ain’t A Game and All I Feel followed in 2001 and 2008. He made a name as a singer with All I Feel and climbed the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
At the moment, you can see Ray J as a star of the VH1 series Love & Hip-Hop: Hollywood.
Ray J Relationships: Who Has He Dated?
Ray J had an on and off relationship with Kim Kardashian. The couple called it quits in in 2007.
He fell in love with his Love & Hip-Hop: Hollywood co-star Princess Love and married her in 2016.
In the News
Ray J is constantly making headlines. In 2011, he made news by punching rapper Fabolous, and in 2014, he was accused by a woman for inappropriately touching her. The scandal of his life was the leak of a sex tape he made with Kim Kardashian, which ended in a lawsuit and a $5 million settlement for Kardashian.
Find out what’s going on with Ray J regularly here at The Shade Room!
